Statement of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin – Condemnation of Violence

14. Dec, 2006

PRESS RELEASE

14TH DECEMBER 2006

STATEMENT OF ARCHBISHOP DIARMUID MARTIN

CONDEMNATION OF VIOLENCE

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin – in a statement issued in response to the horrific violence of the last few days in Dublin – today said that “Human life is sacred. Those who disregard human life must face the judgment of God. If those who carry out such violence or those who mandate them have any conscience, let them remember that, whatever else, God’s judgment is something they will never evade.”Full statement follows:

Violence

Again in these days the streets of Dublin have witnessed a series of horrific killings. They are a terrible reminder of a culture of violence that is beginning to devastate areas of our city. There are some who feel that they have a right to callously disregard the dignity of human life – even of innocent bystanders – in order to foster their criminal interests. There can be nothing further from the message of the Gospel and we all have responsibility to denounce such violence.

Human life is sacred. Those who disregard human life must face the judgment of God. If those who carry out such violence or those who mandate them have any conscience, let them remember that, whatever else, God’s judgment is something they will never evade.

The violence we have witnessed cannot be justified or tolerated whether the victimsare known to be innocent or suspected of involvement in criminal activities. This culture of violence leads only to death. A culture which attempts to impose its interests through violence undermines the rule of law and is a threat to democracy.

There is no room for complacency in the face of such evil. I wish to encourage every support for the Gardai and other civic authorities in their efforts to bring to justice those responsible for these murders and to prevent further killings. I can only praise the courage of individuals and communities who, notwithstanding threats and intimidation, are willing to bring to the attention of the relevant authorities the information they need to act against those who seek to profit from the suffering and addictions of others. All of us must bring home to those who attempt to impose their “law” by means of fear that as a society we are prepared to show that we are not afraid of them. I encourage every parish on this coming Sunday to offer prayers for the communities most affected.

I know from priests in many parishes how the trade in illegal drugs in Dublin is destroying lives every day. In addition to the terrible shootings and beatings that make the news, there is the daily reality of young lives being wasted and families and communities being ripped apart by the terrible plague of drug abuse. There can be no tolerance of this trade. Those who might seek to characterize, however naively, their use of illegal drugs as being “recreational” cannot be allowed to blind themselves to the terrible consequences of this “trade in death” they are supporting.